Electrical programming apparatus



July 28, 1964 J. J. MATULIS ELECTRICAL PROGRAMMING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 6, 1962 FIG CONTROL EQUIPMENT FIG.5

4| FIG. 2

FIG. 6

AW W Wm MATULIS INVHVTOR. JOSEPH J FIG.

ATTORNEY.

J. J. MATULls ELECTRICAL PRQGRAMMING APPARATUS July 2s, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March e, 196g JOSEPH J. MATULIS BY v ATTOR N EY.

United States Patent O 3,142,813 ELECTRICAL PROGRAMMING APPARATUS Joseph J. Matulis, Elmhurst, Ill., assignor to Minneapolis- Honeywell Regulator Company, Minneapolis, Minn., a corporation of Delaware Filed Mar. 6, 1962, Ser. No. 177,901 1 Claim. (Cl. SSS- 201) This invention relates to electrical control apparatus.l More specifically, this invention relates to electrical programming devices.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved electrical programming control device.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved slidewire-type apparatus programming device.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved programming device for simultaneously setting a plurality of slidewire-type devices.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide an improved programming device, as shown herein, having a simple operation and construction.

In accomplishing these and other objects, there has been provided, in accordance with the present invention, a slidewire programmer having a plurality of slidewiretype resistance elements. These elements are resiliently supported in a longitudinally parallel and co-planar relationship within a recess of a iirst insulating enclosure. A second insulating enclosure is arranged to mate with the iirst enclosure in a predetermined relationship whereby the slidewire-type elements are introduced into a recess in the second enclosure. A plurality of electrically conducting strips are attached to the inside surface of the recess in the secondenclosure to place them adjacent and parallel to respective ones of said elements when the enclosures are in the aforesaid mating relationship. An insulating card having printed longitudinal scales thereon corresponding to the number of slidewire elements is arranged to be inserted between the elements and the conducting strips with the scales parallel to respective pairs thereof. The printed scales are each arranged to have a metallic staple inserted thereon and passing through the card to provide an electrical conducting path between the front and the back of the card. Thus, each staple is effective to provide a selectively variable contact, or wiper, for the respective slidewire element. A connection to each of the staples is made through a respective conducting strip against which the staple is pressed by the resilient mounting of the respective slidewire element.

A better understanding of the present invention may be had from the following detailed description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a slidewire programmer.

FIG. 2 is a pictorial representation of a program card suitable for use with the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an isometric representation having crosssections therein of a slidewire programmer embodying the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a cross-section of the programmer shown in FIG. 3 with the programmer in a closed position with the program card shown in FIG. 2 inserted therein.

FIG. 5 is an exploded cross-section of a modified program card suitable for use with a modification ofthe present invention.

FIG. 6 is a pictorial representation of another modified program card suitable for use with a modification of the present invention. A

FIG. 7 is a cross-section of the program card shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a pictorial representation of a typical environice mental mounting position for the programmer of the present invention.

In the eld of process control, it is usually desired to control a plurality of consecutive or concurrent operations to execute a predetermined program. This program may be used to control a process in many types of applications. For example, the temperature and time of application of heat in a steel making process can be controlled as well as the process steps in the manufacture of ice cream or the mixing of concrete. The prior art devices for effecting the determination of a control program were usually limited to manually adjustable potentiometers. The wipers of these potentiometers were selectively adjusted to provide control signals to determine the effect of each of the steps in the process. The prior potentiometers had the disadvantage of not providing a visual indication of the program in terms of the selected steps. Further, the prior art devices were capable of being misadjusted to provide incorrect signals and were not readily operable by unskilled personnel.

The present invention is directed toward an improved programmer operable by unskilled personnel for providing a plurality of selectively vvariable control signals for controlling a process. Further this programmer is eiiective to provide a visual indication of the selected process steps while providing protection against incorrect signals stemming from misadjustment of the control signal. Accordingly, the present invention is effective to overcome the aforesaid deiiciencies of the prior art While providing further advantages thereover.

Referring now to FIG. l, there is shown a schematic illustration vof a programmer 1 connected to responsive control equipment 2. A plurality of potentiometers 3, 4 and 5 in the programmer 1 are used to control various functions `of the equipment 2. For example, potentiometer 3 may be used to provide a control signal for determining the initial temperature of an object to be heated. Potentiometer 4 may be used to set the time for which the initial temperature is to be maintained and potentiometer S may be used to determine the nal temperature of the object. Additional potentiometers 3a, 4a, Sa may be vused if desired to provide additional control signals. These control functions are effected by adjusting the wipers on the potentiometers 3, 4 and 5 to produce control signals for the control equipment 2.

As discussed above, in order to improve the programming operation it is desirable to enable an unskilled operator to operate the programmer and to be aware of the control functions in terms of specic quantities, such as time and temperature, rather than just turns of a plurality of manually variable potentiometers. The present invention is an improved programmer suitable for use as the programmer 1 shown in FIG. l. This novel programmer is shown in a pictorial representation in FIG. 3.

Referring now to FIG. 3, there is shown a preferred embodiment of the present invention comprising a plurality of slidewire-type elements 10, 11, and 12, hereinafter referred to as slidewire elements, each comprising a bare resistance wire wound upon an insulating form, such devices being well-known in the art. These elements 10, 11 and 12 are individually resiliently supported in a longitudinally parallel relationship with each other on a resilient pad 13; e.g., foam rubber. The pad 13 is arranged in an open recess 14 of a first insulating enclosure 1S. This supporting pad 13 is further effective to arrange the slidewire elements 10, 11, and 12 vin a jointly co-planar relationship. Additional slidewire elements 10a, 11a and 12a may be mounted upon the resilient pad 13 as desired.

The electrical connections to the ends of the elements 11i, 11 and 12 are made by individual wires forming a connecting cable 16. An extension 17 at one end of the enclosure and extending transversely thereto is provided for a purpose which will be explained hereinafter.

A second insulating enclosure 20 is provided with an open recess 21 arranged to receive the elements 10, 11 and 12 therein. Either the bottom face 22 of the recess 21 or the entire enclosure 20 is made of a transparent material to permit a view of the interior of the enclosure 20 from the outside. The bottom face 22 is arranged to support thereon a plurality of electrically conducting parallel strips 23, 24 and 25 corresponding in number to the number of slidewire elements. The strips 23, 24 and 25 are each further arranged to be longitudinally parallel to a respective one of the elements 10, 11 and 12 when these elements are placed within the recess 21. The second enclosure 20 is arranged to be joined to the first enclosure 15 by a hinge 28. Accordingly, the movement of the enclosures 15 and 20 upon the hinge 2S is effective to establish a predetermined relationship of one enclosure with respect to the other. When the enclosures are brought together, this relationship is effective to locate the elements 10, 11 and 12 within the recess 21. In this position, the elements 10, 11 and 12 and the strips 23, 24 and 25 are brought adjacent to each other to form parallel pairs of respective strips and element. Thus, the strip 23 is adjacent and parallel to element 10 to form a strip and element pair. Similarly, strip 24 and element 11, and strip 25 and element 12 are adjacent and parallel to each other to form two more strip and element pairs. The strips are connected to respective electrical wires which wires are also brought out in the cable 16. It is to be noted that if additional slidewire elements 10a, 11a and 12a are desired, it is necessary to supply additional conducting strips 23a, 24a and 25a to form furn ther pairs of strips and elements, respectively. A slot 29 is provided in the free end of the second enclosure 20 to allow an insulating card to be inserted within the enclosure 20.

' lA modification of the aforesaid structure that is readily apparent comprises a resilient mounting of the strips 23, 24 and 25 and a rigid mounting of the slidewire elements 10, 11 and 12. A further modification may be the resilient mounting of the strips 23, 24 and 25 and the slidewire elements 10, 11 and 12 or any other combination of resilient and rigid mountings for these elements. A card 30 suitable for use with the present invention is shown in FIG. 2. This card 30 is made of an electri- V cally insulating material with longitudinal scales printed thereon in parallelbands 31, 32 and 33. Using the aforesaid example of the function of the programmer 1 in controlling a process involving an initial temperature, a time for maintaining this temperature and a final temperature, the bands on the card 30 may be a first scale of degrees 31, a scale of minutes 32 and a second scale of degrees 33. In order to program the control equipment 2 using the present invention, an operator would select .the desired magnitude of each control function from the printed scales on the card 30. This selection operation is accomplished by fastening a metal staple or other metallic fastener to the card 30 on each of the markings representing the magnitude of the desired control functions. Accordingly, a first staple 34 is positioned` on a` printed marking of 1550 representing the initial desired temperature. Similarly, a second staple 35 is positioned at a marking ofv 55 for a desired time, and a third l staple 36 at a marking of 1825 for aV desired nal temperature.v It is to be noted that thestaples 34, 35 and 36 provide electrically conducting paths between the front face of the card 30 and the rear face thereof. In order to aid inthe positioning of the staples 34, 35 and 36, the

scale markings on the bands 31, 32 and 33 are arrangedv on both sides of each of the bands. This arrangement is effective to provide reference point-for each endof the staples to insure an accurate position for the staple across the band. Further, a longitudinal center-line is provided on each of the bands 31, 32 and 33 to provide an additional reference point with which to locate the staple within the confines of the sides of the band.

One corner of the card 30 may be cut off to provide a notch 37. This notch 37 is arranged to cooperate with an insert 38 in the recess 21. This cooperation is effective to prevent the card 3f) from being fully inserted in the second enclosure 20 unless the card 30 is inserted with notch 37 being positioned adjacent to the insert 38. If the card 30 is inserted so that the notch 36 is not adjacent to the insert 37, an unnotched corner of the card 34) will encounter the insert 38 before the card 3f) is fully inserted. Accordingly, the card 30 will project from the slot 29 for an abnormal distance.

The aforesaid faulty insertion of the card 30 is de-` tected as follows:

As previously discussed, an extension 17 is provided at the unhinged end of the first enclosure 15. When the two enclosures 15 and 20 are brought together, the extension 17 is arranged to extend parallel to the slotted end of the second enclosure 2f) at a predetermined distance therefrom. This distance is selected to allow the eXtension 17 to pass over a card properly inserted in the slot 29. However, if a card is incorrectly inserted, as mentioned above, it will project an abnormal distance out of the slot 29. This additional projection of the card will interfere with the extension 17. Accordingly, the card will prevent the aforesaid association of the extension 17 and the card and will require a correct insertion before the enclosures 15 and 20 can be brought together. Thus, an operator will be aware that a card has been incorrectly inserted.

Another means of detecting a faulty insertion of a card is achieved by the use of an electrical switch 39 located in the recess 14 of the first enclosure 15. The switch 39 is positioned near the unhinged end of the enclosure 15 along one edge of the recess 14. A longitudinal channel 4f) is cut in one edge of the card 30.

`.This channel 40 is arranged to leave a projecting tab 41 at the end of the card 30. If the card 30 is correctly inserted in the slot 29, the tab 41 is arranged to lie directly above the operating element of the switch 39. Accordingly, when the first and second enclosures 15 and 20 are brought together, the tab 41 will be effective to in the slot 29 in the second enclosure 20 to provide the desired control signals. This insertion is effective to arrange the card 30 between the plates and the slidewire elements 10, 11 and 12. Thus, the card 30 provides an insulating medium between the conducting strips 23, 24 Y and 25 and elements 10, 11 and 12. However, the printed bands 31, 32 and 33 of the card 30 are arranged to lie directly between and parallel to respective pair of strips and elements when the card 30 is correctly inserted in the slot 29. The aforesaid staples 34, 35 and 36, accordingly are also distributed between respective pairs of strips and elements. Since, the elements 1f), 11 and 12 are on the resilient pad 13, they are pressed against the staples which, in turn, are pressed against the conductive strips. The staples are, thus effective to provide an electrical connection between the strips 23, 24 and 25 and selected points on respective ones of the elements 10, 11 and 12. It may be seen that the staples 34, 35 and 36 arethe functional equivalent of Wipers on the elementsv 10, 11 and 12 with the staple position being predetermined by its position on the card 30.

Modified program cards suitable for use with the present invention are shown in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7. In FIG. 5, there is shown an exploded cross-section of a modified program card suitable for use as card 30 and comprising a laminated structure. The front face of this card would appear substantially as shown in FIG. 3. The modified card comprises a top insulating layer 40, an electrically conducting inner layer 41; e.g., a strip of aluminum sheet, and a bottom insulating layer 42. The top layer 40 is preferably made of relatively thick material suitable for printing the numerical scales on the face thereof. In contrast, the bottom layer 42 is made of a thin material capable of being readily punctured. It is to be noted that the inner layer 41 is arranged in separate longitudinally arranged strips corresponding in number and location to the scales printed on the top layer 40. In other words, each scale has a separate inner layer 41 directly beneath it for the full length of the scale. With this modified card, staples are not used to make contact with the slidewire elements. Instead of a staple, an indentation 43 is made in the upper layer 40 at each of the desired scale markings. This indentation 43 is effective to develop a corresponding protrusion 44 in the inner layer 41. This pointed protrusion 44, in turn, is effective to rupture the bottom layer 42 and form a corresponding hole 45. Thus, the indentation 43 is effective to expose the inner layer 41 at a point 44 corresponding to the desired scale marking. Accordingly, each of the indentations 43 on each of the scales results in a similar protruding conductive point 44 corresponding to the indentation 43.

It is to be noted that the bottom layer 42 does not extend for the full length of the inner layer 41. Accordingly, at one end of the card, the inner layers 41 are al1 exposed. When this card is inserted in the programmer shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the protrusions 44 are effective to contact the slidewire elements 10, 11, and 12. However, in order to make contact to the inner layer 41, the aforesaid exposed portions may be utilized either by providing separate electrical contacting members therefor at the bottom of the recess 14 in the enclosure 15 or by bending extensions of the strips of the inner layer 41 around the edge of the card in the manufacture of the card. These bent-around portions would electrically contact the previously described strips 23, 24, and 25. Accordingly, the protrusions 44 are utilized as selectively positioned wiper elements on the slidewire elements 10, 11, and 12.

The card shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 is another modification of the program card shown in FIG. 2. Here, as previously described, the card 30 has a notch 37a, a channel 40a and tab 41a for the purposes discussed above. On the front face of the card are printed scale bands 46, 47 and 48 similar to the bands 31, 32 and 33 shown in FIG. 2. However, on the back of the card are mounted longitudinal strips of electrically conductive material 50, 51 and 52. These strips are arranged under and longitudinally parallel to respective ones of the bands 46, 47 and 48. When staples 53, 54 and 5-5 are inserted at the desired scale markings, the strips 50, 51 and 52 are pierced by respective ones of these staples to make individual electrical connections thereto. The strips 23, 24 and 25, shown in FIG. 1, accordingly, may be removed from the bottom 22 of the recess 21 and a separate contacting member for each strip 53, 54 and 55 provided at the bottom of the recess 14. As shown in the cross-section in FIG. 7, the staples 53, 54 and 55 extend above the surface of the card and are effective to mechanically space the strips 50, 51, and 52 from the respective slidewire element to allow an electrical contact to the slidewire only through the staples.

A typical environmental mounting position of the programmer 1 of the present invention is shown in FIG. 8. As shown therein, the programmer 1 is mounted on a panel 60 of associated equipment. The card 30, accordingly, is inserted in the slot 29 from the top of the programmer 1. The scaled bands 31, 32 and 33 are visible through the transparent side 22 of the enclosure 20 along with the staples selectively inserted therein. Accordingly, the operator of the programming apparatus can readily see the programmed functions on the card as indicated by the combination of the scales and the staples. Further, the removal of an old card and the insertion of a new card allows a very rapid and accurate change in the programmed functions without any complex measurements or adjustments.

Thus, it may be seen that there has been provided, in accordance with the present invention, an improved slidewire programming apparatus for simultaneous programming a plurality of slidewire-type devices and a program card suitable for cooperation therewith.

What is claimed is:

A programmer comprising a plurality of slidewire-type elements, first electrically insulating means for supporting said elements in a parallel and electrically isolating relationship with respect to each other, a plurality of electrically conductive strips, second electrically insulating means for supporting said strips in a parallel and electrically isolated relationship with respect to each other, hinge means for joining said first and said second means to effect a mating juxtaposition of said first and second means whereby said elements are arranged in a longitudinally parallel and spaced relationship with respect to respective ones of said strips, a fixed programming means having electrically conducting segments selectively positioned thereon, slot means arranged to introduce a said fixed programming means between said elements and said strips to selectively electrically connect respective ones of said elements and said strips, an extension for said first insulating means, said extension. being arranged to cooperate with said programming means to prevent the mating of said iirst and said second insulating means upon an incorrect insertion of said programming means in said slot means, electrical switch means arranged to be actuated by said programming means upon a correct insertion of said programming means in said slot means and electrically conducting means for providing electrical connections to said switch means, said elements and said strips.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,724,026 Johnson Nov. 15, 1955 2,847,543 Cobb Aug. l2, 1958 2,903,679 Gilliam Sept. 8, 1959 3,060,347 Burski Oct. 23, 1962 

